ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR - 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 48MHz MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.51 | $6.51 |
| 10 | $6.14 | $61.40 |
| 100 | $5.65 | $565.00 |
| 500 | $5.2 | $2,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.85 | $4,850.00 |
ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, program memory, data memory, and a rich set of peripherals onto one chip, forming the complete embedded control hierarchy: processor core -> MCU -> embedded system. The ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR belongs to the Atmel/Microchip SAM4L family, built on the ARM Cortex-M4 RISC architecture with Thumb-2 instruction set, positioning it in the mainstream 32-bit embedded controller class between simple Cortex-M0 parts and high-performance Cortex-M7 devices.
Key features include the high-efficiency Cortex-M4 core with DSP-friendly single-cycle multiply instructions, 256 KB (256K x 8) of flash program memory, 32K x 8 SRAM, and an ultra-low-power design that makes the SAM4L series a benchmark for energy-sensitive applications. On-chip analog includes both 10-bit and 12-bit ADC capability per distributor data, and security is supported by a hardware AES crypto module, as noted in Mouser listing attributes (CRYPTO).
Technically, the SAM4L implements a multilayer bus matrix, sleepwalking peripheral operation, and multiple low-power sleep modes so that RAM retention and peripheral wake-up can be managed independently of the CPU clock. The industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) and 1.68 V to 3.6 V single-supply operation allow direct battery and 3.3 V rail designs.
Typical applications include portable battery-powered instruments, industrial sensors and actuators, consumer appliances, and low-power IoT nodes where the 48 MHz Cortex-M4 core processes control loops and sensor data with crypto-secured communication links.
When designing with this device, budget the flash endurance and use the on-chip brown-out and clock-fail detection features; supply decoupling on all VDD/VDDIO pairs and a clean 3.3 V rail preserve ADC accuracy.
This page adds distributor pricing tiers, drop-in family alternatives, design notes, and comparison data synthesized from DigiKey, Mouser, Octopart, and LCSC listings - information not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Number of Pins, Packaging.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$2.71 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LS8CA-AUR
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC8CA-AUR
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$6.75 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LS4CA-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4SD32CA-AUR
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| RAM Size | 32K x 8 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.68 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Number of Pins | 100 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit and 12-bit |
| Security Feature | Hardware AES crypto module |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Series | SAM4L |
| Termination Form | Gull Wing |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Green package per Mouser) |
ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR 100-tqfp (14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR (100-tqfp (14x14 mm) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR is suitable for 6 applications: Portable Battery-Powered Instruments, Industrial Sensors and Actuators, Low-Power IoT Nodes, Consumer Appliances and Controls, Data Acquisition and Measurement, Secure Embedded Systems.
Portable Battery-Powered Instruments
The ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR fits portable instrumentation because the SAM4L series is Microchip's ultra-low-power Cortex-M4 line: the 1.68 V to 3.6 V supply range supports direct single-cell or two-cell battery operation, and multiple sleep modes with sleepwalking peripherals let the ADC sample while the CPU sleeps, extending battery life dramatically versus always-on cores. In a handheld meter, the 48 MHz Cortex-M4 executes the measurement math and UI code while the device spends most of its duty cycle in low-power sleep with RAM retention. The trade-off is that peak performance at 48 MHz is modest, so heavy DSP should be scheduled in short active bursts. The 100-TQFP package offers enough I/O for displays, keypads, and USB connectivity in one 14x14 mm footprint.
Recommended
Industrial Sensors and Actuators
In industrial sensing, the ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR provides the 12-bit ADC resolution needed for accurate transducer digitization and the industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating required on factory floors. The Cortex-M4 core closes PID control loops at 48 MHz with headroom, while hardware USART, SPI, TWI, and USB peripherals integrate with field buses and PCs. The AES crypto module authenticates sensor data against tampering, increasingly demanded in industrial IoT deployments. Designs typically run the MCU from a 3.3 V rail derived from 24 V industrial supplies, with the SAM4L brown-out detector guarding against brown-out transients. The 256 KB flash accommodates protocol stacks plus calibration routines, and drop-in flash upgrades to the ATSAM4LS8CA-AUR are available if firmware grows without changing the PCB.
Recommended
Low-Power IoT Nodes
The ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR is a strong choice for wireless IoT end nodes where sleep current dominates battery budget. The SAM4L architecture lets peripherals wake the CPU only for events, and the 32 KB SRAM retains context across sleep so the stack re-enters quickly - critical for duty-cycled radio protocols. The 100-TQFP CA package supplies enough GPIO for multiple sensors, status LEDs, and a radio module SPI link simultaneously. With a 1.68 V minimum supply, the MCU can operate directly from a lithium coin cell through a low-Iq regulator. Designers should pair it with a sub-1 uA quiescent LDO and budget flash writes carefully, as the AES crypto module secures the uplink payload without CPU-intensive software cryptography.
Recommended
Consumer Appliances and Controls
Consumer appliance control boards benefit from the ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR's combination of a 32-bit Cortex-M4 core, USB device capability, and the RoHS-compliant Green 100-TQFP package suited to lead-free mass assembly. The 48 MHz core runs touch-sensing algorithms, motor sequencing, and UI rendering concurrently, while 256 KB flash holds localization tables and OTA-updatable firmware. Per Mouser, the part is rated industrial temperature, giving margin above consumer 0-70C requirements, and the AES module supports secure boot schemes now common in connected appliances. Designers should place the MCU's VDDIO domains to match display and sensor voltage levels, exploiting the SAM4L's split supply architecture to interface 1.8 V peripherals without level shifters.
Recommended
Data Acquisition and Measurement
The ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR serves compact data-acquisition front ends through its 12-bit ADC with multiple input channels multiplexed across the 100-pin TQFP package. The Cortex-M4's DSP instructions accelerate digital filtering and oversampling that raise effective resolution, and the 32 KB SRAM buffers samples between communication bursts over USB or UART. Because the SAM4L supports sleepwalking, the ADC can continuously fill buffers during CPU sleep, reducing average power in long-duration loggers. Accuracy depends on reference quality and VDD cleanliness - supply the analog domain from a filtered 3.3 V rail and decouple every VDD pin pair. For systems needing 10-bit fast sampling and 12-bit precision sampling in one box, the dual 10/12-bit ADC capability reported by LCSC covers both without external converters.
Recommended
Secure Embedded Systems
The ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR addresses secure embedded designs - smart access points, authenticated actuators, and pay-per-use devices - through its integrated AES hardware crypto module noted in the Mouser CRYPTO attribute. Hardware AES encrypts telemetry and authenticates firmware updates in microseconds instead of the milliseconds software crypto would consume on a 48 MHz core, keeping latency low and side-channel exposure manageable. The 256 KB flash supports dual-image secure bootloader schemes, and the industrial temperature rating plus 1.68 V to 3.6 V supply range fit both mains-powered and battery-backed secure nodes. Designers should still add external tamper detection if the threat model includes physical attack, as the SAM4L does not replace a dedicated secure element for high-assurance key storage.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR | ATSAM4LS8CA-AUR | ATSAM4LC8CA-AUR | ATSAM4LS4CA-AU | ATSAM4SD32CA-AUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core / Speed | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 512 KB | 512 KB | 256 KB | 2048 KB |
| SRAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 160 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.68 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.68 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Power Optimization | SAM4L low-power series | SAM4L LC ultra-low-power variant | SAM4L LS low-power series | SAM4L LC ultra-low-power variant | SAM4L LS low-power series | SAM4SD high-memory series (higher power) |
| AES Crypto Hardware | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Ultra-low-power SAM4L architecture with sleepwalking peripherals (vs ATSAM4SD32CA-AUR)
- Hardware AES crypto module at low cost (vs Competing Cortex-M4 MCUs without crypto accelerators)
- Footprint-compatible flash upgrade path (vs ATSAM4LS8CA-AUR / ATSAM4LC8CA-AUR)
Design Notes
The ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR operates from 1.68 V to 3.6 V, but maximum 48 MHz CPU speed and full ADC performance are specified at the upper end of the range. For battery designs targeting minimum supply, verify speed-versus-voltage derating in the SAM4L datasheet before selecting a regulator. Decouple every VDD/VDDIO pair on the 100-TQFP with 100 nF ceramics placed within 2 mm of the pins, plus one bulk 10 uF per supply domain. Use the SAM4L sleep modes with sleepwalking peripherals so the CPU spends most of its duty cycle stopped - this is where the series earns its low-power reputation.
The 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) gull-wing package requires 0.5 mm pitch solder masking and a standard non-solder-mask-defined land pattern per the Microchip package drawing. Use a 4-layer stack with solid ground plane to control ADC noise; route analog sensor traces away from fast clock lines. Thermal pad relief is not required as the TQFP is not a power device, but a good ground plane improves signal integrity for USB. Keep crystal and oscillator traces short and guarded with ground pour for clock accuracy.
Do not treat the ATSAM4LS4CA-AUR as interchangeable with 64-pin BA-suffix parts (e.g., ATSAM4LC8BA-UUR) - the pin maps differ and the footprint is not compatible; only CA-suffix 100-pin parts are drop-in on this footprint. The R suffix indicates tape-and-reel only; tray-packaged ATSAM4LS4CA-AU is identical silicon. Verify ADC channel-to-pin mapping in the pin multiplexing tables before locking the schematic, and budget flash endurance for firmware-update schemes by using the SAM4L flash controller's page-write commands per the datasheet.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the part as Green package (RoHS-compliant) with MRL screening. AEC-Q100 automotive qualification not indicated in provided data.
